Feeder and harness wiring structure using same

ABSTRACT

In order to attain a compact and simplified feeder assembly  1 , the feeder assembly adopts a space receiving a wiring harness  6  to be bend, a sliding member  7  provided in the wiring harness, and a sliding guide to guide the sliding member in the space side. The wiring harness is bent to loop or U-shape. The space is provided in a protector  4 . The sliding guide  5  is formed in mountain shape or slanted. The sliding guide  5  is a pair of rails, guiding through-holes or walls opposed to each other, the wiring harness  6  is inserted between the pair of rails, and the sliding member  7  is a spherical member which contacts to slide freely on the pair of rails or walls, or an axis which engages with the guiding through-holes. An insulating cover of each electric cable of the wiring harness  6  or a protection tube of the circumference of the wiring harness  6  may be formed with a material which hardly degrades the rigidity with temperature and humidity changes or a loop portion  6   b  may be provided with a curved rigid member openable at a hinge.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a feeder assembly which absorbs anexcess length of a wiring harness when moving a sliding structure inorder to feed the sliding structure such as a sliding door or slidingseat of a vehicle from a power source.

RELATED ART

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a harness arrangement structure utilizing aconventional feeder assembly (for example, see JP,2001-354085,A)

A feeder assembly 61 is attached to a sliding door 62 of a vehicle. Thefeeder assembly 61 is provided with a base 63 and cover (not shown) madeof synthetic resin, and a metal flat spring 65 which receives a sag(excess length) by urging upward a wiring harness 64 in the protector.

The base 63 is fixed vertically to a inner panel 66 of the sliding door62 and the cover is locked to the base 63 by a locking means. The flatspring 65 is fixed to the base 63. A narrow opening 67 for guiding outthe wiring harness is provided in the front of the protector and anelongated opening 68 is provided in the underneath the protector.

The wiring harness 64 is received crookedly in the protector and one endof the wiring harness 64 is arranged to an auxiliary apparatus to theside of the sliding door through the opening 67 of the front side andother end is arranged to the side of a vehicle body 71, through theunderneath opening 68 and through a step over, while being supported bya harness fixing portion near a step 69 and is connected to a wiringharness (not shown) to the side of the vehicle body (power supply side).“Front side” refers to the front side of the vehicle.

When the sliding door 62 in FIG. 21 is fully closed, the wiring harness64 is depressed upward by the flat spring 65 and is stretched to thebackside (facing to the harness fixing portion 70) from the underneathopening 68 of the protector. When the sliding door 62 is opened bysliding to backside, the wiring harness 64 is tend to sag downward butthe flat spring 65 urges to absorb the sag. When the sliding door 62 isfully opened as in FIG. 22, the wiring harness 64 bends downward theflat spring 65 and is bent in a small radius and stretched to the frontside (facing to the harness fixing portion 70). The sliding door 62 ismoved outward (to the direction apart from the vehicle body 71) whenopened from the, closed state in FIG. 21.

However, in the conventional feeder assembly and the harness arrangementstructure, since the sag of the wiring harness 64 is absorbed by urgingupward, the structure enlarges in height. As is anticipated, a largeattachment space is not available in the sliding door, an attachmentposition is limited or an attachment is not possible, due to the slidingspace of windows and the position of auxiliary apparatus for type ofvehicles. Moreover, since many parts, such as metal flat spring 65, amember fixing the metal flat spring 65 to the base 63, a cap supportingstably the wiring harness 64 at the tip of the flat spring 65 and thelike, are required, more cost of parts and assembly hours are necessary.

Wiring harness of insulating coating cable may be utilized in thestructure other than the feeder assembly stated but special cable suchas cabtire cable, curled cord or the like has a difficulty applying formany kinds of sliding doors and for changing design of circuit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a feeder assembly and aharness arrangement structure utilizing it. The feeder assembly andharness arrangement structure are capable of preventing from the heightenlargement so that the assemblage can be made with a saved-space in asliding structure body such as a sliding door and an excess length of awiring harness can be absorbed by few parts without flat spring.Furthermore, they can use regular type cables and are applicable to manykinds of sliding doors.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above object, a feeder assembly of the presentinvention is provided with a receiving space in which a wiring harnessis bent, a sliding member provided in the wiring harness, and a slidingguide to guide the sliding member. Thereby, when a sliding structurebody such as a sliding door and the like engaged slidably with a fixedstructure body such as a vehicle body and the like moves back and forth,the sliding member of the wiring harness arranged from the space of thesliding structure body to the fixed structure body side moves along thesliding guide in the space side and a loop portion or a bent portion ofthe wiring harness expands and contracts in the space so that the excesslength of the wiring harness is absorbed when the loop portion expandsthe diameter or the bent portion contracts.

Thereby, as the sliding structure body slides, the sliding member movesalong the sliding guide, and the loop portion or the bent portion of thewiring harness expands and contracts vertically or horizontally in thespace so that the space is saved in the height direction compared to thefeeder assembly utilizing a conventional flat spring. The rigidity ofthe wiring harness forms the loop portion or the bent portion withoutusing a flat spring and hence absorbs the excess length of the wiringharness.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is provided with thereceiving space in which the wiring harness is bent in loop shape, andthe sliding guide to guide the sliding member in the direction to whichthe loop portion of the wiring harness expands or contracts.

Thereby, when the sliding structure body such as a sliding door and thelike engaged slidably with the fixed structure body such as a vehiclebody and the like moves back and forth, the sliding member of the wiringharness arranged from the space of the sliding structure body to thefixed structure body side moves along the sliding guide in the spaceside and the loop portion of the wiring harness expands and contracts inthe space so that the excess length of the wiring harness is absorbedwhen the loop portion expands in the diameter and the wiring harness ispulled out to the fixed structure body side from the space when the loopportion contracts the diameter. Thereby, as the sliding structure bodyslides, the sliding member moves along the sliding guide, and the loopportion of the wiring harness expands and contracts in the radialdirection vertically or horizontally in the space so that the space issaved in the height or crosswise direction compared to the feederassembly utilizing a conventional flat spring. The rigidity of thewiring harness forms the loop portion without using a flat spring andhence absorbs the excess length of the wiring harness.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is provided with thereceiving space in which the wiring harness is bent in U-shape, and thesliding guide to guide the sliding member in the direction to which thebent portion of the wiring harness expands or contracts.

Thereby, when the sliding structure body such as a sliding door and thelike engaged slidably with the fixed structure body such as a vehiclebody and the like moves back and forth, the sliding member of the wiringharness arranged from the space of the sliding structure body to thefixed structure body side moves along the sliding guide in the spaceside and the excess length of the wiring harness is absorbed when thewiring harness is bent. Thereby, as the sliding structure body slides,the sliding member moves along the sliding guide, and the wiring harnessis bent in U-shape vertically and horizontally in the space so that thespace is saved in the height or crosswise direction compared to thefeeder assembly utilizing a conventional flat spring. The rigidity ofthe wiring harness forms the loop portion without using a flat springand hence absorbs the excess length of the wiring harness.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that thespace is provided in a protector and the sliding guide is provided inthe lengthwise direction of the protector.

Thereby, when a sliding structure body such as a sliding door and thelike engaged slidably with a fixed structure body such as a vehicle bodyand the like moves back and forth, the protector provided in the slidingstructure body moves with the sliding structure body and the fixedsliding member of a wiring harness arranged from the protector to thefixed structure body side moves along the sliding guide in the protectorand the loop portion or the bent portion of the wiring harness expandsor contracts in the protector and the excess length of the wiringharness is absorbed when the loop portion expands the diameter or thebent portion contracts and the wiring harness is pulled out to the fixedstructure body side when the loop portion contracts the diameter.Thereby, as the sliding structure body slides, the sliding member movesalong the sliding guide, and the loop portion of the wiring harnessexpands or contracts in the radial direction or the bent portion of thewiring harness expands or contracts in the vertical or horizontalprotector so that the space is saved in the height or crosswisedirection compared to the protector structure utilizing a conventionalflat spring. The rigidity of the wiring harness forms the loop portionwithout using a flat spring and hence absorbs the excess length of thewiring harness.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly has a sliding guide ofmountain shape.

Thereby, as the sliding structure body moves, the sliding member movesto the top of the sliding guide of mountain shape and the loop portionof the wiring harness is forced to be expanded in the diameter and theexcess length is assuredly absorbed. The excess length of the wiringharness is absorbed in the expanded radial direction of the loopportion. When the sliding member is positioned at the top of the slidingguide, the loop portion has the largest diameter. As the sliding membermoves to the bottom of the sliding guide of mountain shape, the loopportion contracts the diameter and the wiring harness is pulled out ofthe space or the protector.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly has a sliding guide which isformed in slanted from one end to the other end.

Thereby, as the sliding structure body moves, the sliding member movesupward along the slanted sliding guide and the loop portion of thewiring harness is forced to be expanded in the diameter and the excesslength is assuredly absorbed. The loop portion expands the diameter tothe direction (crosswise) along the sliding guide and the excess lengthis absorbed crosswise. As the sliding member moves downward along theslanted sliding guide and the loop portion contracts the diameter andthe wiring harness is pulled out of the space or the protector.

In the feeder assembly the feeder assembly has the sliding guide whichhas a straight portion and a slanted portion followed from the straightportion.

Thereby, a space or a protector having a space is provided in the fixedstructure body side such as a vehicle body and a wiring harness isarranged from the space to a sliding structure body side. When thesliding structure body such as a sliding door of a vehicle is openedfrom the fully closed state, or is fully closed from the nearly closedstate, the sliding member moves along the slanted portion of the slidingguide and the wiring harness is bent in U-shape so that the stroke ofthe thickness direction of the sliding structure body is absorbed andthe sag of the wiring harness outside the protector is prevented. Whenthe sliding structure body moves parallel to the fixed structure body,the sliding member moves along the straight portion of the slidingguide.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that thesliding guide is a pair of rails opposed to each other and the wiringharness penetrates between the pair of the rails and the sliding memberis a spherical member to contact freely slidable to the pair of therails.

Thereby, the wiring harness is bent in loop shape between the pair ofthe rails and its excess length is absorbed. Even though the directionof the sliding member changes due to the bending or swing of the wiringharness, the spherical sliding member always swings smoothly on the pairof the rails.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that thesliding guide is a pair of guiding through-holes or a pair of guidinggrooves opposed to each other, and the sliding member has an axisengaging slidably with the guiding through-holes or guiding grooves.

Thereby, the axis is engaged with the guiding through-hole or theguiding groove and the position of the sliding member is alwaysaccurately regulated so that the formation of the loop portion of thewiring harness is smoothly and assuredly made. Since the sliding guidedoes not project in the protector, the space (width) for inserting thewiring harness in the protector can be reduced and the reduction of thespace and the protector is attained.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that thesliding guide is a long side wall of the protector.

Thereby, the long side wall of the protector combines with the slidingguide, the structure is simplified and attains a low cost. The protectoris made compact since the space inside the protector is fully utilized,that is (there is no useless space between the wall of the long side andthe sliding guide).

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that along opening for swinging the wiring harness is provided in thelengthwise direction of the protector and an opening of the wiringharness fixing side is provided in one end of the protector.

Thereby, the wiring harness guided in the protector from the one end ofthe protector is bent in loop shape in the protector or extends almoststraight and is guided out of the long opening of the lengthwisedirection. As the sliding structure body moves back and forth, thewiring harness swings back and forth along the long opening, and theloop portion or the bent portion expands or contracts.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that aninsulating cover of each electric cable constituting the wiring harnessis formed with a material which hardly degrades with the change oftemperature and humidity.

Thereby, the rigidity of each electric cable, that is, the rigidity ofthe whole wiring harness is always kept constant (high) and the wiringharness can keep the shape even at high temperature and high humidityand the wiring harness always bends in loop or U-shape. Then, the excesslength of the wiring harness is further smoothly and assuredly absorbed.Only the material of the insulating cover of the electric cable ischanged and the shape of the electric cable is same as that of theconventional cable so that it has a high versatility.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that aprotection tube covering the outer circumference of the wiring harnessis formed with a material which hardly degrades with temperature andhumidity changes.

Thereby, the rigidity of the wiring harness is always kept constant(high), and the wiring harness can keep the shape even at hightemperature and high humidity and always bend in loop or U-shape. Then,the excess length of the wiring harness is further smoothly andassuredly absorbed. Only the material of the protection tube is changedand the shape of the protection tube is same as that of the conventionaltube so that it has a high versatility.

In the feeder assembly, the feeder assembly is characterized by that acurved rigid member openable at a hinge is provided in the loop portionor the bent portion of the wiring harness.

Thereby, the loop portion or the bent portion of the wiring harness isalways kept curved shape by the rigid member. For example, as thesliding structure body moves back and forth, when the loop portioncontracts the diameter the rigid member rotates to the closing directionat the hinge to correct the loop a smaller diameter, when the loopportion expands the diameter the rigid member rotates to the openingdirection at the hinge to correct the loop a larger diameter, and theexcess length of the wiring harness is further smoothly and assuredlyabsorbed.

A harness arrangement structure utilizing the feeder assembly ischaracterized by that the space of the feeder assembly is provided in asliding structure body or a fixed structure body, the sliding structurebody engages to slide the fixed structure body, the wiring harnessfollowed to the sliding member is guided out from the space to the fixedstructure body or the sliding structure body side, the wiring harnessfollowed to the loop portion is guided out and fixed to the slidingstructure body or the fixed structure body side.

Thereby, when the sliding structure body moves back and forth, forexample, the harness receiving space provided in the sliding structurebody moves with the sliding structure body and swings to the lengthwisedirection of the space, the sliding member slides along the slidingguide in the space side, the loop portion or the bent portion of thewiring harness expands or contracts in the space, and the excess lengthof the wiring harness is absorbed when the loop portion expands thediameter or the bent portion contracts. Thereby, as the slidingstructure body slides, the sliding member moves along the sliding guide,and the loop portion of the wiring harness expands or contracts thediameter or the bent portion of the wiring harness expands or contractsin the vertical or horizontal direction in the space so that the spaceis saved in the height or crosswise direction compared to the feederassembly structure utilizing a conventional flat spring. The rigidity ofthe wiring harness forms the loop portion or the bent portion withoutusing a flat spring and hence absorbs the excess length of the wiringharness.

A harness arrangement structure utilizing the feeder assembly ischaracterized by that the protector of the feeder assembly is providedin a sliding structure body or a fixed structure body, the slidingstructure body engages to slide the fixed structure body, the wiringharness followed to the sliding member is guided out from the longopening of the protector to the fixed structure body or the slidingstructure body side, the wiring harness followed to the loop portion isguided out and fixed to the sliding structure body or the fixedstructure body side.

Thereby, when the sliding structure body moves back and forth, forexample, the protector provided in the sliding structure body movestherewith and swings along the long opening of the protector, thesliding member slides along the sliding guide in the protector, the loopportion or the bent portion of the wiring harness expands or contractsin the protector, and the excess length of the wiring harness isabsorbed when the loop portion expands the diameter or the bent portioncontracts. Thereby, as the sliding structure body slides, the slidingmember moves along the sliding guide, and the loop portion of the wiringharness expands or contracts the diameter or the bent portion of thewiring harness expands or contracts in the vertical or horizontaldirection in the protector so that the protector is made compact in thehigh direction compared to the protector utilizing a conventional flatspring. The rigidity of the wiring harness forms the loop portionwithout using a flat spring and hence absorbs the excess length of thewiring harness.

In the harness arrangement structure using the feeder assembly, theharness arrangement structure is characterized by that the feederassembly is disposed vertically or horizontally.

For example, if the sliding structure body is a sliding door, the feederassembly is disposed vertically (lengthwise) and a space is saved in theheight direction (the direction perpendicular to the sliding) of thesliding door. If the sliding structure body is a sliding seat, thefeeder assembly is disposed horizontally (flatly) and a space is savedin the widthwise direction (the direction perpendicular to the sliding)under the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully closed showing afirst embodiment of a feeder assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sliding door half opened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully opened;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a slidingmember and sliding guide in a protector;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing other embodiment of asliding member and sliding guide in a protector;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a cableconstituting a wiring harness;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a wiring harness;

FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of a rigid member and a front view of awiring harness in a reduced diameter;

FIG. 8B shows an embodiment of a rigid member and the front view of thewiring harness in an expanded diameter;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully closed showing asecond embodiment of a feeder assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sliding door half opened;.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully opened;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment wherein afeeder assembly and a harness arrangement structure utilizing itaccording to the present invention are applied to a sliding seat;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a harness arrangement structure when asliding seat being back and forth;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a feeder assembly and a harnessarrangement structure utilizing it;

FIG. 15 is a front view of an embodiment showing a feeder assembly and achanged harness arrangement structure;

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a feeder assembly and a harnessarrangement structure utilizing it;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an elongated harness showing a fourthembodiment of a feeder assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a feeder assembly crooked;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully closed showing aharness arrangement structure utilizing a feeder assembly;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully opened showing aharness arrangement structure;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully closed showing aconventional feeder assembly and a harness arrangement structureutilizing it; and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a sliding door fully opened showing aconventional feeder assembly and a harness arrangement structureutilizing it.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Detail of embodiments of the present invention is described belowreferring to drawings. FIGS. 1-3 show a first embodiment of a feederassembly according to the present invention.

The feeder assembly 1 is longitudinally (vertically) disposed in asliding door (sliding structure body). FIG. 1 shows the sliding doorfully closed, FIG. 2 shows the sliding door half opened and FIG. 3 showsthe sliding door fully opened.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feeder assembly 1 is provided with a case 2 madeof synthetic resin with a relatively small height, a cover 3 (shown by achain line) made of synthetic resin attached to the case 2, a pair ofsliding guides 5 of generally mountain-shape opposed to the case 2 andthe cover 3, and a sliding member 7 which is supported by a wiringharness 6 crooked in loop in the pair of sliding guides 5 and isslidable back and forth.

The front half of the case 2 is formed in generally rectangle shape andthe back half is formed in generally slanted shape. The front and backcorresponds with those of a vehicle. The case 2 is formed with avertical base plate 8 and a circumferential wall of the base plate 8.The circumferential wall includes a horizontal lower side wall 9, anfront upright wall 10 of crooked shape, an horizontal upper side shortwall 11, and a curved wall 12 of the back half following to the upperside wall 11.

A restricted-opening 13 is provided in the upper side wall 11 forguiding the harness and one end of the wiring harness is fixed by afastener 14 near the opening 13. The wiring harness guided out of theopening 13 is connected with a wiring harness or auxiliary apparatus inthe sliding door by a connector 15. The case 2 is fixed to the innerpanel of a sliding door (not shown) by fasteners (not shown) such asbolt or locking clip.

The cover 3 of flat shape is disposed parallel and opposed to the baseplate 8 and fixed by locking means (not shown) of locking piece andengaging projection and the like along the circumferential walls 10 to12. The lower end of the cover 3 is positioned to a little higher thanthe lower wall 9 and a horizontal opening 16 of a long sideways slitshape is formed between the cover 3 and the lower wall 9 and the otherend of the wiring harness 6 is guided out of the opening 16, through aharness fastener 17 (fasteners) of a vehicle body (fixed structurebody), to connect a wiring harness (not shown) of the vehicle body witha connector 18.

The harness fastener 17 may support rotatably the wiring harness 6 in acircumference direction. A long or circular auxiliary protector of arectangular-shaped pipe may be provided between the sliding door and thevehicle body in place of the harness fastener 17 to receive theauxiliary protector the car body side to the direction of the vehiclewidth when opening or almost closing the sliding door.

The case 2 and cover 3 form a protector 4. A long sideways space isformed in the protector 4 for receiving harness. The opening 16 to thelower side of the protector 4 is extended straight from the upright wall10 to an opening 19 of the back end of the case 2. The opening 19 of theback end may be closed by a vertical wall (not shown).

The sliding guide 5 rises up like a mountain from the lower wall 9 (thelower end of the base plate 8) and the lower end of the cover 3, and isformed in the base plate 8 and the vertical base plate of the cover 3symmetrically. The sliding guide 5 of the cover 3 is shorter than thesliding guide of the base plate 8 to the size of the opening 16. Theshape of the sliding guide 5 may be mountain, bent or linearly slantedand has an almost equal length of a slanted portion 5 a and 5 b at thefront half and the back half of the protector 4 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4 of a sectional view of an embodiment of the slidingguide 5, the sliding guide 5 is provided saliently inside the base plate8 of the case 2 and the cover 3 in a rail shape. The rail 5 is providedupper side with a curved surface 5 d which has a section of generallytriangle shape and supports a sliding member 7 of ball shape. Theprojected length of the rail 5 is set for the wiring harness 6 to passthrough between the pair of rails 5 freely. There is a space between thepair of rails 5 for the insertion of the harness.

The sliding member 7 of ball shape is made of synthetic resin and isdivided in two pieces each side and holds the wiring harness 6 inside athrough-hole to lock it by means of locking claw and locking means (notshown) such as locking recess. When the wiring harness 6 is covered by acorrugated tube 21 made of synthetic resin at the circumference and aninside projection of the sliding member 7 is engaged with a concavegroove of the corrugated tube 21 in the circumferential direction, thesliding member 7 is movable freely in the circumferential direction andis resisted (fixed) to move to the longitudinal direction of theharness. The outer diameter of the sliding member 7 is set larger thanthe width of the underside opening 16 so that the sliding member 7 doesnot bounce out of the opening 16.

Upper and lower construction of a pair of rails 5 may also hold thewiring harness 6 between the upper and lower rail 5 without dropping.The section shape of the rail 5 may set as depending the shape of thesliding member 7. It is also possible that the sliding member 7 is notdivided and the wiring harness 6 is inserted in the center through-hole20 (FIG. 4) and is fixed by taping a projected piece (not shown) to thelongitudinal direction of the harness. The sliding member 7 of ballshape may be formed in a protector tube such as a corrugated tube of thecircumference of a wiring harness.

For the rail 5 and the sliding member 7 in FIG. 4, the sliding member 7contacts (slides) the rail 5 by utilizing the weight of the wiringharness 6 and hence a simple structure and low cost is attained. FIG. 1shows the sliding member 7 and the sliding guide 5 of the embodiment ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows other embodiment of a sliding guide. The sliding guide 5′is formed with a guiding through-hole (cam through-hole) penetrating inthe base plate 8 of the case 2 and the cover 3. An axis 22 of a slidingmember 7′ is engaged with the guiding through-hole 5′ and slides freely.Front and back ends (lower end) of the through-hole 5′ are not opened atthe lower end of the cover 3 so that the axis 22 does not bounce out ofthe cover 3.

The sliding member 7′ is made of synthetic resin and is provided with anannular portion 23, which is held and fixed by the wiring harness 6 orfixed by engaging with the concave groove of the corrugated tube 21(FIG. 1) freely in the circumferential direction, and the pair of axes22 projected in the radial direction of the annular portion 23. Theannular portion 23 can be divided in each side and fixed mutually bylocking means, it can be fixed to the wiring harness 6 by taping aprojected piece (not shown), or it may be formed integrally to theprotector tube of the circumference of the wiring harness.

At the embodiment of FIG. 5, the sliding position of the sliding member7′ is assuredly regulated by the through-hole 5′ so that the contractionof the wiring harness 6 is carried out with an accurate diameter in theprotector 4 and is prevented from the up-and-down backlash.

When the sliding door fully closed-shown in FIG. 1, the sliding member 7is positioned to the back end (lower end of the back-half slantedportion 5 a) of the sliding guide 5. The wiring harness 6 is inclinedupward along the slanted portion 5 a from the sliding member 7, forminga small ring downward at the back side of the protector 4, intersectingthe harness back part 21, and uprising to the opening 13 to the upperside along the back wall 12 in bent as in the numeral 6 a. The harnessback part 21 is stretched backward to the direction of the harnessfastener 17 of the vehicle body side through the lower opening 16.

When the sliding door half opened (the sliding door is opened backwardto the half of a full stroke) shown in FIG. 2, the harness fastener 17of the vehicle body side is immobile and the protector 4 moves back ahalf stroke with the sliding door and thereby the sliding member 7 goesup along the backside slanted portion 5 a of the sliding guide 5 andalmost reaches at a top 5 c of the sliding guide 5.

Thereby, the wiring harness 6 forms a large loop in the front half ofthe protector 4 and is not loosened between the lower opening 16 and theharness fastener 17, and is received in the protector 4 through thelower opening 16 in a loop shape. The excess length (looseness) of thewiring harness 6 between the sliding door half opened and the vehiclebody is assuredly received.

When the sliding door fully opened as shown in FIG. 3, the protector 4moves back with the sliding door and the sliding member 7 downs alongthe slanted portion 5 b of the front half of the sliding guide 5 to bepositioned to the front end of the slanted portion 5. The wiring harness6 turns to be a reduced loop in the front half of the protector 4 and islead out forward to the harness fastener 17 of the vehicle body. Theharness 6 swings back and forth along the lower opening 16 when openingand closing the sliding door.

The sliding member 7 (7′) slides along the sliding guide 5 (5′) ofgenerally mountain shape when opening and closing the sliding door sothat the wiring harness 6 expands in loop shape and the excess length isabsorbed in the protector 4, or contracts in loop shape in the protector4 and is guided out of the vehicle body, and then the contraction of thewiring harness 6 is smoothly and assuredly made.

Since the harness back part 21 from the sliding member 7 to the harnessfastener 17 in FIG. 1 is exposed to outside the protector, it ispreferable to cover it with a flexible protective tube (exterior member)(numeral 21) such as a corrugated tube for water-proofing anddust-proofing.

The wiring harness from the sliding member 7 to the upper opening 13 isbent in loop so that it is preferable to increase its rigidity (if itsportion is soft, it can not form a loop and the loop collapses). It ispreferable not to degrade the rigidity of the wiring harness 6 whenatmospheric temperature and humidity are high.

For this reason, an insulating cover 26, which covers core wire 25 ofeach electric cable 24 constituting the wiring harness 6 in FIG. 6, ismade of polyethylene, fluorocarbon resin or the like which is notaffected by temperature. As in FIG. 7, it is also preferable to cover aplurality of electric cables 24′ (a bundle of electric cables) by aprotection tube 28 the rigidity of which is not degraded by temperatureor humidity, same as in FIG. 6. It is also effective to adopt thestructures of FIGS. 6 and 7 at the same time (both the insulating cover26 and the protection tube 28).

The construction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (resin material with stablerigidity) is also adapted to not only the wiring harness 6 b followinginside the protector 4 but the wiring harness (noted by numeral 21)following outside from the sliding member 7 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, a rigid member 29 made of syntheticresin or metal with a curved shape (circular arc) may be attached to theouter surface of the bent portion 6 b (loop) of the wiring harness 6 sothat the wiring harness 6 can be easily made a loop. The rigid member 29is formed with a pair of curved plates 30 which are rotatable (openable)at a central hinge (fulcrum) 31. The curved plate 30 may be bent in thewidth direction (radial direction of harness) and is fixed to the wiringharness by a tape 32 and the like.

In the case of the rigid member 29 made of synthetic resin, the hinge 31may be a thin hinge. The rigid member 29 works as an auxiliary protectorwhich protects the wiring harness 6 from the friction of the innersurface of the protector 4. The shape of the rigid member 29 is notlimited to a plate but may be a bent rod.

When the sliding door fully closed or opened, as shown in FIG. 8A, thewiring harness 6 becomes a reduced diameter and the rigid member 29rotates to the closing direction to keep the loop of the wiring harness6. When the sliding door half opened, as shown in FIG. 8B, the wiringharness 6 expands the diameter and the rigid member 29 rotates to thedirection of open to keep the loop of the wiring harness 6. Thus, theloop of the wiring harness 6 is kept by the rigid member 29 and theexcess length of the wiring harness 6 is assuredly received when thesliding door opened and closed.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show the second embodiment of the feeder assemblyaccording to the present invention.

A feeder assembly 33 is provided lengthwise (vertically) in a slidingdoor (sliding structure body) of a vehicle. FIG. 9 is the sliding doorfully closed, FIG. 10 half opened, and FIG. 11 fully opened. The samenumerals as in FIG. 1 are used for the same element and the detailedexplanation is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the feeder assembly 33 is provided with a case 34made of synthetic resin with a relatively small height, a cover 35(shown by a chain line) made of synthetic resin attached to the case 34,a pair of slanted sliding guide 37 provided opposed to the case 34 andthe cover 35, and a sliding member 7 which is supported by a wiringharness 6 crooked in loop between the pair of sliding guide 37 and isslidable back and forth along the sliding guide 37.

A protector 36 is formed with the case 34 and the cover 35. An longsideways space is formed in the protector 36 for receiving a harness.The case 34 is formed in a long sideways rectangle and is provided abovea front wall 38 and back wall 39 with a curved portion 40 along thelooped bent portion 6 b of the wiring harness 6. An upper wall 41 andlower wall 42, which are parallel to each other, together with the frontwall 38 and back wall 39 form a circumferential wall of a vertical baseplate 43. An long sideways opening 44 of horizontal direction forguiding (swinging) out a harness is provided between the lower end ofthe cover 35 and the lower wall 42. A restricted opening 45 is providedin the lower part of the back wall 39 for guiding a harness (forfixing). One end 21 of the harness 6 is arranged to the vehicle bodyside from the long sideways opening 44 through a harness fastener 17 andthe other end 6 d of the wiring harness 6 is arranged to the slidingdoor side with fixed near at the opening 45 of the back side.

The sliding guide 37 is inclined in straight and an upper end 37 a ofthe sliding guide 37 is positioned above the inside of the back wall 39.A lower end 37 b of the sliding guide 37 is positioned lower the insideof the front wall 38. The sliding member 7 fixes the wiring harness 6and moves up and down along the sliding guide 37 with a back and forthmovement.

It is possible to use the embodiment shown in. FIGS. 4 and 5 for thesliding guide 37 and sliding member 7. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, thesliding member 7 of spherical shape of the wiring harness 6 is engagedwith and slides freely a pair of inclined rail on each side of the case34 and the cover 35 of the protector 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the axis 22of the annular sliding member 7′ of the wiring harness 6 is engaged withan inclined guiding through-hole 5′ of the case 34 and the cover 35 ofthe protector 36 to slide freely. FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4.

When the sliding door fully closed shown in FIG. 9., the sliding member7 is positioned in the upper end 37 a of the back of the sliding guide37. The wiring harness 6 is bent in a long sideways loop with anexpanded diameter inside the long sideways protector 36 and hangs alongthe back wall 39 of the protector 39 from the sliding member 7 and isguided out to the vehicle body side from the back end of the longsideways opening 44.

When the sliding door half opened shown in FIG. 10, the protector 36moves back with the sliding door. The harness fastener 17 of the vehiclebody side does not move and the sliding member 7 moves half along thesliding guide 37 and is positioned halfway at the lengthwise directionof the sliding guide 37. The wiring harness 6 becomes more reduceddiameter than that fully closed shown in FIG. 9 and the loop 6 b ispositioned to the front half of the protector 36. The wiring harness 6 dfollowing from the loop 6 b extends straight along the lower wall 42 ofthe protector 36 and reaches to the opening 45 fastening the harness atthe back end.

When the sliding door fully opened shown in FIG. 11, the protector 36moves back with the sliding door and the sliding member 7 moves forwardalong the sliding guide 37 and downs to the front end (lower end) 37 bof the sliding guide 37. The loop 6 b of the wiring harness 6 becomesmore reduced than that half opened shown in FIG. 10. The harness 6 dfollowing from the loop 6 b extends straight along the lower wall 42 ofthe protector 36. The wiring harness 21 following from the slidingmember 7 to outside swings back and forth along the long opening 44 whenopening and closing the sliding door.

Accordingly, the wiring harness 6 is bent in loop in the long sidewaysprotector 36, and expands and contracts laterally to absorb the excesslength. This is different from the conventional plate spring, whichabsorbs the excess length of a harness upward, so that the protector 36is made more compact in the height.

The high rigid structure of electric cable 24 in FIG. 6 and wiringharness in FIG. 7 and the constitution of rigid member shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B are also adapted to the embodiments in FIGS. 9-11. As in the caseof the embodiment described, the resulting effect keeps the rigidity ofthe wiring harness 6 at high temperature and high humidity and makesalways the wiring harness loop and keeps the loop and attains smoothlyand assuredly to absorb the excess length.

The feeder assembly of each embodiment described above is adapted toseveral kinds of sliding doors besides a sliding door of a vehicle andalso to sliding structure body such as a sliding seat of a vehicledescribed below. In this case, the harness arrangement structure from avehicle body to a sliding door corresponds to that from a fixedstructure body to a sliding structure body.

The case 2, 34 may be formed integrally with the cover 3, 35 to form theprotector 4, 36 if they are formed with resin molding. The sliding guide5, 37 may be formed separately from the protector 4, 36 and may be fixedthereto 4, 36. One sliding guide 5, 5′, 37 may be formed in the case 2,34 or the cover 3, 35 without a pair and can slide the sliding member 7,7′. If the sliding guide 5, 5′, 37 is provided in the case 2, 34, it ispreferable for the sliding member 7, 7′ to contact inside the cover 3,35 without backlash. The guiding through-hole 5′ of the sliding guidemay be replaced by a guiding groove. The sliding guide 37 of FIG. 9 maynot be a straight slant but may be a curved slant. In this case which isdifferent from the sliding guide 5 of FIG. 1, the one end 37 a of thesliding guide 37 is always higher than the other end 37 b and thehalfway point is always lower than the one end 37 a so as that thesliding guide 37 downs gradually from the one end to the other end. Thesliding member 7 is not limited to sphere. However, even a sphere it ispreferable to have a groove to engage with the pair of rails 5 forsliding.

Since the feeder assembly 1, 33 includes the wiring harness 6 receivedin the protector 4, 36, the wiring harness 6 is assumed as a part of thefeeder assembly 1, 33. The protector 4, 36 may be provided in thevehicle body side instead of the sliding door. In this case, theprotector 4, 36 is disposed flat and horizontally in the vehicle bodyside and the lower wall 9, 42 of the case 2, 34 is opened for the longsideways opening 16, 44 for guiding and swinging the harness. Moreover,without using the fastener 14, the wiring harness 6 may be guidedthrough the restricted opening 13, 45 and may be fixed by a fixing meansof the sliding door side.

FIGS. 12 to 16 show the examples in which the feeder assembly is appliedto a sliding seat of a vehicle as the third embodiment of the feederassembly and the harness arrangement structure with its use according tothe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, a seat 46 is fixed on a seat base 47 of generallygate shape, the seat base 47 is engaged, freely slidable back and forth,with each right and left side rail 48 of the floor side by a pulley 47a, and a feeder assembly 49 is disposed under the seat base 47. Thefeeder assembly 49 feeds auxiliary apparatus such as passenger detectingsensor, seat heater, power seat, seat belt and side air-bag of the seatside 46. The feeder assembly 49 utilizes the similar embodiment as FIG.9 and the same numerals are given for the same functions as in FIG. 9and the detailed explanation is omitted. A sliding member 7′ (FIG. 13)and sliding guide 37′ utilize the embodiment of FIG. 5.

As shown by a chained line in FIG. 13, the seat base 47 slides widelyback and forth and the feeder assembly 49 is disposed horizontally(flatly) on a floor panel 50 as shown in FIG. 14. The feeder assembly 49is embedded and fixed in a recess of the floor panel 50. The wiringharness 6 of the swinging side is guided out of a long opening 44 of anupper cover 35 and is connected to the wiring harness or auxiliaryapparatus (not shown) of the seat 46 at the connector 18 of the seatbase 47. The wiring harness of the fixed side is connected to the wiringharness (not shown) of the vehicle body side (power supply side) at theconnector 15 of a wall 41 of one side.

As shown by a solid line in FIG. 13, when the seat 46 (seat base 47) ispositioned forward, the wiring harness 6 is positioned to the front halfof the protector 36 same as in FIG. 9 and is bent to a long sidewaysloop. A space for receiving the harness is formed in the protector 36.As the seat 46 slides backward as the chained line, the sliding member7′ slides along the slanted sliding guide 37′ to the long opening 44 inthe protector 36. The wiring harness 6 becomes a reduced diameter at theback of the protector 36 like FIGS. 10 and 11 and the protector 36absorbs the harness 6 to the amount of the sliding of the seat 46. Thewiring harness 6 swings backward along the long opening 44.

Since the protector 36 is long along the opening 44 and shortperpendicular to the opening 44, the space of the seat width 46 is savedto the side of the protector 36 and the protector 36 is adapted to allkinds of seat 46. If the wiring harness 6 guided out (exposed) of theprotector 36 becomes long, the protector 36 can be shorter to thelengthwise direction than FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show the example where the feeder assembly 49 isdisposed to the seat base 47 instead of the floor panel 49. Theprotector 36 is fixed to the back of the seat base 47 and a space forreceiving harness is formed in the protector 36. The long opening 44 isprovided in the lower cover 35 of the protector 36 and the wiringharness 6 is guided out downward from the opening 44 and connected tothe wiring harness of the floor panel 50 (power supply side) at theconnector 18. The connector 15 of the fixed wiring harness is providedin the side of the protector 36 and is connected to the wiring harnessof the seat side 46.

As shown in FIG. 16, the feeder assembly 49 moves back and forth withthe seat 46 and concurrently the wiring harness 6 (FIG. 15) swings alongthe long opening 44 of the protector 36 and the excess length of thewiring harness 6 is absorbed in the protector 36 as in FIG. 13 when itis extended and contracted. The embodiment of FIG. 15 shows that thewiring harness 6 from the protector 36 is exposed short and the wiringharness is protected well compared to the embodiment of FIG. 13.

The protector 4, 36 is disposed inside the sliding door or sliding seatin the above embodiment. However, the sliding guide 5, 5′, 37 may beprovided, for example, integrally to or separately from an inner panel66 and outer panel, or the inner panel 66 and door trim (not shown) ofthe sliding door 62 (refer to FIG. 17) without using the protector 4,36. In this case, the space between the inner panel 66 and the outerpanel, or the space between the inner panel 66 and the door trim isutilized to receive the harness.

FIGS. 17 to 20 show the fourth embodiment of a feeder assembly and aharness arrangement structure of its use according to the presentinvention.

A feeder assembly 51 absorbs the slack of a wiring harness 52 when thesliding door (sliding structure body) of a vehicle is opened and closed.As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the feeder assembly 51 is provided, at awall 52 of the long side, with a long sideways protector 54 made ofsynthetic resin having a long slit-opening 53 for guiding a harness(swing side) and a generally spherical sliding member 7 which isprovided in the wiring harness, which bends to U or J shape in the spaceof the protector 54 and slides along the long opening 53.

The protector 54 is formed with a broad portion 56 at the front and arestricted portion 57 at the back and is surrounded by four walls andhas a space inside for bending a harness. It is possible to form theprotector 54 with a case and a cover as the embodiment of FIG. 1. Thewall 52 of the long side having the opening 53 is formed with a longstraight portion 52 a and a short slant portion 52 b and both 52 a and52 b continue smoothly in curvature. The slant portion 52 b intersectswith a short wall 58 in which an opening 59 is provided for guiding aharness (fixed side).

A wiring harness 55 is guided out of the both openings 53 and 59 tooutside and freely bends inside the protector 54 and forms a bendingportion 55 a (FIG. 18) with U-shape therein. The sliding member 7 isfixed at the circumference of the wiring harness 55. Both length of thewiring harness from the sliding member 7 to the fixed side opening 59and from the sliding member 7 to a movable connector 60 are not changed.The wall 52 of the long side operates as a sliding guide and stopper forthe sliding member 7.

The long opening 53 is provided in the middle of the width of the wall52 of the long side and is extended near to the short walls 58 and 71 offront and back. The inner face of the wall 52 to both sides of the widthof the long opening 53 operates as the sliding guide for the slidingmember 7 Since the sliding member 7 is the same as the embodiment ofFIG. 1 and its detailed explanation is omitted. The sliding member 7 maybe integrated with or separated from a circumferential corrugated tube72 of the wiring harness 55. The corrugated tube 72 is provided withcircumferential concave groove and convex chamfer alternately along thelongitudinal direction and has a good bending property and electriccable protection.

The above feeder assembly 51 is disposed horizontally at the back sideof a step 69 of a vehicle body (fixed structure body) 71 as shown inFIGS. 19 and 20. One side of the wiring harness 55 is arrangedhorizontally from the fixed side opening 59 of the protector 54 to thevehicle body 71 and is connected to the wiring harness (not shown) ofthe vehicle body side at a connector 73. The other side of the wiringharness 55 is arranged horizontally from the movable long opening 53(FIG. 17) to the side of the sliding door 62 and is connected to awiring harness 74 of the sliding door side at a connector 60.

When a sliding door 62 fully closed as in FIG. 19, the wiring harness 55is bent in generally U-shape in the protector 54 as shown in FIG. 18 andis guided out front. The sliding member 7 moves (contacts) along theslanted portion 52 b of the wall 52 of the protector 54 and ispositioned to the side of the front end 53 a of the opening 53.

As the sliding door 62 moves back from the fully closed position of FIG.19, the wiring harness 55 extends and is expanded backward in theprotector 54 as shown in FIG. 20 and swings along the long opening 53.The sliding member 7 moves along the straight portion 52 a from theslanted portion 52 b of the wall (sliding guide) 52 of FIG. 18 and isapart from the straight portion 52 a to locate inside the protector 54as shown in FIG. 17 when the sliding door 62 fully opened as in FIG. 20.

The slanted portion 52 b of the wall 52 of the protector 54 absorbs thestroke of the thickness direction of the sliding door when the slidingdoor 62 is opened outward the vehicle from the fully closed state orwhen the sliding door 62 is fully closed inward the vehicle from thealmost closed state. The sliding member 7 is guided along the slantedportion 52 b so that the stroke of the thickness direction of thesliding door 62 is smoothly absorbed and the sag of the wiring harness55 is prevented.

It is also possible to substitute the pin-like sliding member 7′ of FIG.5 for the spherical sliding member 7 of the embodiment of FIG. 17. Inthis case, the inner face of the wall 52 to the both sides of the widthdirection of the long opening 53 operates as a sliding guide for thesliding member 7′. The guiding through-hole 5′ same as FIG. 5 may beprovided in the wall (numerals 56 and 57 in FIG. 17) of the both sidesof the protector 54 along the long opening 53 with down-turning ofcorners.

If the protector 54 is formed within the thickness of the sliding door62 at FIG. 19, it is capable of disposing the protector 54 horizontallyto the sliding door side instead of the vehicle body side. In this case,the protector 54 is disposed symmetrical to FIG. 19 and the slantedportion 52 b of the wall 52 (sliding guide) absorbs the stroke of thethickness direction of the sliding door.

When the protector 54 is disposed perpendicular to the sliding door 62,the protector 54 is reversed back and forth as to FIG. 19 and thesliding member 7 is positioned to contact the slanted portion 52 b ofthe sliding guide 52 at the almost closed position of the sliding door62 so as to absorb the stroke of the thickness direction of the slidingdoor. It is preferable to provide the long opening 53 at the lower endside (close to the wall 52) of the perpendicular wall (Numerals 56 and57 in FIG. 17).

Moreover, the protector 54 in the horizontal position as in FIG. 19 maybe disposed in the sliding seat 46 or the floor panel 50 as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15. In this case, the slanted portion 52 b of the slidingguide 52 is positioned close to the sliding seat 46 to absorb the sag ofthe wiring harness 55.

In FIG. 19, the protector 54 maybe integrated to the vehicle body 71,vehicle panel or the like (without using the protector, 54) and the longopening 53 to guide the sliding member 7 may be provided in the vehiclebody 71 or panel. This constitution is also adapted to the case ofdisposing the protector 54 to the sliding door side or the sliding seatside.

The electric cable 24 or protection tube 28 with a stable rigidity fortemperature and humidity changes in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be utilized in thewiring harness 55 of the embodiment in FIG. 17 and the rigid member 29of FIG. 8 may also be provided in the bending portion 55 a (FIG. 18) ofthe wiring harness 55.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the invention, a sliding member of a wiring harness sidemoves along a sliding guide of a space side. A loop and a bent portionof the wiring harness expands and contracts so that the excess length ofthe wiring harness is absorbed smoothly and assuredly by a few partswithout using conventional flat spring or its fixing member. The excesslength is absorbed in the radial direction of the loop portion or thebending direction of the bent portion instead of being absorbed upwardso that the receiving space, for the wiring harness is saved in theheight and crosswise direction. Thereby, a feeder assembly structure issimplified and attains a low cost. Accordingly, the feeder assembly orthe wiring harness are incorporated with a small space into a slidingdoor of a vehicle or a vehicle body having a limited space in the heightdirection, and are utilized for many kinds of vehicle.

According to the invention, the sliding member of the wiring harnessside moves along the sliding guide of the space side. The loop portionof the wiring harness expands and contracts so that the excess length ofthe wiring harness is absorbed smoothly and assuredly by a few partswithout using conventional flat spring or its fixing member. The excesslength is absorbed in the radial or crosswise direction of the loopportion instead of being absorbed upward so that the receiving space forthe wiring harness is saved in the height and crosswise direction.Thereby, the feeder assembly structure is simplified and attains a lowcost. Accordingly, the feeder assembly or the wiring harness areincorporated with a small space into a sliding door of a vehicle havinga limited space in the height direction, and are utilized for many kindsof vehicle.

According to the invention, the sliding member of the wiring harnessside moves along the sliding guide of the space side. The bent portionof the wiring harness expands and contracts so that the excess length ofthe wiring harness is absorbed smoothly and assuredly by a few partswithout using conventional flat spring or its fixing member. The excesslength is absorbed in the bending direction of the bent portion insteadof being absorbed upward so that the receiving space for the wiringharness is saved in the height and crosswise direction. Thereby, thefeeder assembly structure is simplified and attains a low cost.Accordingly, the feeder assembly or the wiring harness are incorporatedwith a small space into a sliding door of a vehicle or a vehicle bodyhaving a limited space in the height direction, and are utilized formany kinds of vehicle.

According to the invention, the sliding member of the wiring harnessside moves along the sliding guide of the protector. The loop portion orthe bent portion of the wiring harness expands and contracts so that theexcess length of the wiring harness is absorbed smoothly and assuredlyby a few parts without using conventional flat spring or its fixingmember. The excess length is absorbed in the radial direction of theloop or the bending direction of the bent portion instead of beingabsorbed upward so that the receiving space for the wiring harness issaved in the height and crosswise direction. Thereby, the feederassembly structure is simplified and attains a low cost. Accordingly,the feeder assembly or the wiring harness are incorporated with a smallspace into a sliding door of a vehicle or a vehicle body having alimited space in the height direction, and are utilized for many kindsof vehicle.

According to the invention, the sliding member moves up and down alongthe sliding guide with mountain shape as a sliding structure body moves.The loop portion of the wiring harness is forced to expand and contractto absorb the excess length in the radial direction of the loop portion.Compared to the conventional feeder assembly using flat spring, thespace or the protector receiving a wiring harness is saved in the heightdirection and is minimized to expand the versatility.

According to the invention, the sliding member moves up and down along aslanted sliding guide as the sliding structure body moves. The loopportion expands and contract along the direction of the sliding guide toabsorb the excess length in the crosswise direction. Compared to theconventional feeder assembly using flat spring, the space or theprotector receiving a wiring harness is saved in the height directionand is minimized to expand the versatility.

According to the invention, the stroke of the thickness direction of thesliding structure body is smoothly absorbed by the slanted portion ofthe sliding guide so that the sag of the wiring harness outside theprotector is prevented and the pinch of the wiring harness between thesliding structure body and the fixed structure body is prevented.Thereby, the reliability feeding the sliding structure body is improved.

According to the invention, even though the sliding member changes thedirection with the bending or swing of the wiring harness, a sphericalsliding member slides always smoothly on a pair of rails so that theexcess length of the wiring harness is smoothly and assuredly absorbed.

According to the invention, an axis is engaged with a guidingthrough-hole or a guiding groove and the position of the sliding memberis accurately regulated so that the formation of the loop portion of thewiring harness, that is, the absorption of the excess length is smoothlyand assuredly made.

According to the invention, since a long sidewall of the protectorcombines with the sliding guide, the structure is simplified and attainsa low cost and the protector is made compact since the space inside theprotector is fully utilized. Thereby, a protector can be incorporated inthe sliding door of a vehicle or a vehicle body having a limited spacein the height direction and can be made many kinds of vehicle versatile.

According to the invention, as the sliding structure body moves back andforth, the wiring harness swings back and forth along the long openingand the loop portion expands and contracts or the bent portion expandsso that the excess length of the wiring harness is smoothly andassuredly absorbed corresponding to the back-and-forth movement of thesliding door and the movement outward apart from the vehicle body.

According to the invention, the wiring harness is always bent in loopshape without losing the shape even high temperature and humidity andthe excess length of the wiring harness is smoothly and assuredlyabsorbed and the reliability of feeding the sliding structure body isimproved. The only change is the material of the insulating cover ofelectric cable and the shape of the electric cable is the same as theconventional cable. Then, with the high versatility, it is adapted witha low cost to any type of the sliding structure body without using aspecial electric cable.

According to the invention, the wiring harness is always bent in loopshape without losing the shape even high temperature and humidity andthe excess length of the wiring harness is smoothly and assuredlyabsorbed and the reliability of feeding the sliding structure body isimproved. The only change is the material of the protection tube and theshape of the protection tube is the same as the conventional tube. Then,with the high versatility, it is adapted with a low cost to any type ofthe sliding structure body without using a special electric cable.

According to the invention, the loop portion or bent portion of thewiring harness expands and contracts, or bends while always keeping thebending shape with a rigid member, and the excess length of the wiringharness is smoothly and assuredly absorbed and the reliability offeeding the sliding structure body is improved.

According to the invention, the sliding member of the wiring harnessside moves along the sliding guide of the space side. The loop and bentportion of the wiring harness expands and contracts so that the excesslength of the wiring harness is absorbed smoothly and assuredly by a fewparts without using conventional flat spring or its fixing member. Theexcess length is absorbed in the radial direction of the loop portion orthe bending direction of the bent portion instead of being absorbedupward so that the receiving space for the wiring harness is saved inthe height direction. Thereby, the feeder assembly structure issimplified and attains a low cost. Accordingly, the feeder assembly orthe wiring harness are incorporated with a small space into a slidingdoor of a vehicle or a vehicle body having a limited space in the heightdirection, and are utilized for many kinds of vehicle.

According to the invention, the sliding member of the wiring harnessside moves along the sliding guide inside the protector. The loopportion or the bent portion of the wiring harness expands and contractsso that the excess length of the wiring harness is absorbed smoothly andassuredly by a few parts without using conventional flat spring or itsfixing member. The excess length is absorbed in the radial direction ofthe loop portion or the bending direction of the bent portion instead ofbeing absorbed upward so that the protector is made compact in theheight direction. Thereby, the structure is simplified and attains a lowcost. Accordingly, the protector is incorporated with a small space intothe sliding door of a vehicle or a vehicle body having a limited spacein the height or crosswise direction, and is utilized for many kinds ofvehicle.

According to the invention, in the case of a sliding door, the spaceinside the sliding door is saved in the height direction and a feederassembly is easily incorporated in the sliding door. In the case of aseat, the space under the seat is utilized effectively and can be savedin the horizontal width direction and it is capable of disposingcompactly a feeder assembly. The versatility of feeder assembly attainsa low cost.

1. A feeder assembly comprising: a space receiving a wiring harness tobe bent; a sliding member provided in the wiring harness; and a slidingguide, being formed as one of a mountain shape, slanted from one end toanother end, and having a straight portion and a slanted portionfollowing the straight portion, being provided in the space, to guidethe sliding member, wherein the space is provided in a protector and thesliding guide is provided in the lengthwise direction of the protector,and a long opening to swing the wiring harness is provided in thelengthwise direction of the protector and an opening of the wiringfixing side is provided in one end side of the protector.
 2. The feederassembly according to claim 1, further comprising the space receivingthe wiring harness bent in loop shape and the sliding guide to guide thesliding member to the direction to which a loop portion of the wiringharness expands or contracts the diameter.
 3. The feeder assemblyaccording to claim 1, further comprising the space receiving the wiringharness bent in U-shape and the sliding guide to guide the slidingmember to the direction to which a bent portion of the wiring harnessexpands or contracts.
 4. The feeder assembly according to claim 1,wherein the sliding guide is a pair of rails opposed to each other, thewiring harness is inserted between the pair of rails, and the slidingmember is a spherical member which contacts to slide freely on the pairof rails.
 5. The feeder assembly according to claim 1, wherein thesliding guide is a pair of guiding through-holes or guiding groovesopposed to each other and the sliding member has an axis which engagesto slide freely on the guiding through-holes or the guiding grooves. 6.The feeder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sliding guide is awall of a long side of the protector.
 7. The feeder assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein an insulating cover of each electric cableconstituting the wiring harness is formed with a material which hardlydegrades the rigidity with temperature and humidity changes.
 8. Thefeeder assembly according to claim 1, wherein a protection tube coveringthe circumference of the wiring harness is formed with a material whichhardly degrades the rigidity with temperature and humidity changes.
 9. Afeeder assembly comprising: a space receiving a wiring harness to bebent; a sliding member provided in the wiring harness; and a slidingguide, being provided in the space, to guide the sliding member, thespace receiving the wiring harness bent in a loop shape and the slidingguide to guide the sliding member to the direction to which a loopportion of the wiring harness expands or contracts the diameter, whereina curved rigid member openable at a hinge is attached to the loopportion or the bent portion of the wiring harness.
 10. A harnessarrangement structure utilizing a feeder assembly comprising: the feederassembly comprising: a space receiving a wiring harness to be bent; asliding member provided in the wiring harness; and a sliding guide,being provided in the space to guide the sliding member, disposed in asliding structure body or a fixed structure body; the sliding structurebody engaging to slide on the fixed structure body, the wiring harnessfollowing to the sliding member being guided out of the space to thefixed structure body or the sliding structure body side; and the wiringharness following to the loop portion being guided out and fixed to thesliding structure body or the fixed structure body side.
 11. The harnessarrangement structure utilizing the feeder assembly according to claim10, wherein the feeder assembly is disposed vertically or horizontally.12. A harness arrangement structure utilizing a feeder assemblycomprising: a space receiving a wiring harness to be bent; a slidingmember provided in the wiring harness; and a sliding member provided inthe wiring harness; and a sliding guide, being provided in the space, toguide the sliding member, the space is provided in a protector and thesliding guide provided in the lengthwise direction of the protector, theprotector of the feeder assembly being disposed in a sliding structurebody or a fixed structure body; the sliding structure body engaging toslide the fixed structure body; the wiring harness following to thesliding member being guided out of a long opening of the protector tothe fixed structure body or the sliding structure body side; and thewiring harness following to the loop portion being guided out and fixedto the sliding structure body or the fixed structure body side.
 13. Theharness arrangement structure utilizing the feeder assembly according toclaim 12, wherein the feeder assembly is disposed vertically orhorizontally.